Furnace



FURNACE Jan. 27, 1942. c. HARRIS 2,271,424

Filed Nov. 19, 1938l -3 Sheets-Sheet 2r C. HARRIS Jan. 27, 1942.

FURNACE Filed Nov. 19, 1938 s 'sheets-sheet s Patented Jan. 27, 1942 FURNACE Cleo Harris, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Borg- Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 19; 1938, Seral'No. 241,403

2 Claims.

This invention relates to furnaces, and particularly to the gratel portion thereof.

The object of this invention is to simplify the construction and operation of a furnace grate.

A feature of this invention is an improved combination grate shaker and dump mechanism, which is operable by a single lever.

Another feature of this invention is a dumping mechanism for a grate which departs from the form generally used in that it eliminates gear sectors and is operated more directly by the eX- ternal control.

These and other features and objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, and in which: f

Fig. 1 is an elevation in section of a portion of a furnace in which the novel grate is installed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation in section of the grate.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the grate shown in Fig. 2. i

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the grate withthe shake portion thereof removedto show to better advantage the operating mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation yof the grate shown in Fig. 4.

In its preferred form, this invention comprises a grate for afurnace, vboiler or other heating unit wherein the grate portion is divided into two parts, namely, a shake portion and a dump portion. The shake portion comprises an annular casting having a track onr its under side. Agenerally ring-shaped frame member is hung from the furnace proper and is provided with a plurality of wheels which ride in the track of the shake portion, and constitute the support therefor. The dump portion is comprised of a pair of complementary semi-circular castings each of which is pivoted about a horizontal axis vso that when both semi-circular castings are rotatedthey permit the coal or other combustible material in the furnace to drop into the ash-pit. Each of the dump castings is provided with a crank, the cranks being connected together with alink in such a manner that rotation of one casting will cause a simultaneous rotation of the other casting, but in the opposite direction. The cranks and connecting links take the place of the conventional gear sectors. One of the cranks is enlarged and is connected pivotally to a rod which protrudes partly beyond the front of the furnace. Immediately over thisrod is a second rod which is pivotally connected to the shake portion of the grate, and likewise protrudes slightly beyond the front of the furnace. Each of these rods is provided at its protruding end with a hook. A horizontally pivoted lever located at the front of the 'l stub shafts.

furnace is provided with pinsV which are engageable with the hooks in the rods. The fulcrum for the lever is shiftable upward so that the lever may be oscillated without engaging the dump rod if it is desired merely to shake the furnace, and the dump rod may be engaged simultaneously with the shake rod if it is desired to dump the furnace. The axis of rotation of the operating lever is substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the dump mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention, I0 is the main body or frame of the furnace-and is provided with an opening II for the insertion thereinto of coal or other combustible material, and another opening I2 which leads intothe ash pit I3, and through which the solid products of combustion may be removed. Between openings II and I2 and located rearwardly of the furnace is a fire box I4 which is lined with a heat resistant material I5 such as re brick or the like. u

The bottom of fire box I4 is dened by a sheet metal annulus I6 which is welded or otherwise secured to the body I0 of the furnace. Depending from annulus I6 and welded or otherwise secured thereto is a plurality of hangers I'I, which support a cast-iron frame I8. Said frame I8 is provided with two generally parallel lugs I9, which rest upon hangers Il. A third lug 20 is pinned as at 2I to its hanger to hold said frame in place. u f

Referring to Fig. 4k for the details of frame I8, it will be seen that said frame I8 is provided with spacedbearing surfaces 22 for supporting a combination wheel and shaft 23. Similar spaced bearing surfaces 24 and 25 are provided on either side of bearing surfaces 22 to support similar wheels 23. All of the bearing surfaces are preferably formed integrally with ring Additional bearings 26 and 2l, are provided in ring member I8 to support semi-circular complementary grate portions 28 and 29, each of which grate portions is provided with a pair of Stub shafts 30 and 3I are integral with grate portion 28 and stub shafts 32 and 33 are integral with grate portion 29. Bearings 26 are merely cored apertures in ring I8, into which stub shafts 30 and 32 may be inserted. Bearings 2l are. split bearings, being formed on the lower halfas an integral part of ring I8, and at the upper half by a removable strap 34.

Resting upon wheels 23 is an annular grate portion 35 which fits fairly closely over semicircular grate portions 28` and 29 to complete the grate surface of the furnace. ,Annular grate portion 35 is oscillatable about a vertical .axis on wheels 23, said wheels riding in a track 36 formed by a depending flange 3l, which serves to maintain said annular grate portion upon the wheels. Oscillation of grate portion 35 serves merely to shake the coal or other combustible product so as to retain the larger pieces in the iire box and to drop the smaller pieces into the ash-pit.

Semi-circular grate portions 28 and 29 are oscillatable about horizontal axes passing through the stub shafts associated with each portion, and when so oscillated create a large opening in the grate whereby clinkers and other large objects in the fire box may be dumped into the ash-pit.

The mechanism for causing the various grate portions to oscillate as described will now be detailed.

'Ihe shake portion 35 of the grate is provided with a depending lug 38 which is apertured at 39y to receive the end 49 of a rod 4l. Said rod 4| extends forwardly through the upper region of ash-pit |31, and terminates outside of the furnace wall i6 in a hook 42. The reciprocation of rod 4| will result in an oscillation of annular grade portion 35 about its axis because of the tangential pull of the end 40 of rod 4| upon depending lug 38.

Semi-circular grate portion 28 is provid-ed at the outer extremity of its stub shaft 3| with a crank 43, which is preferably formed integrally with said grate portion. In a similar manner, semi-circular grate portion 29 is provided at the outer extremity of its stub shaft 33 with a crank 44, said crank 44, however, being longer than crank 43. Crank 43 is provided with an aperture 45 and crank 44 is similarly provided with an -aperture 46, each of which apertures receives the opposite bent ends 41 and 48, respectively, of a connecting link 49. Suitable retaining means (not shown) may be used to prevent link 49 from working its way out of apertures 45 and 46.

It should be noted at this point that the cranks, the apertures in the cranks, and the link, are so arranged that the link crosses a line connecting the axes of rotation of the two dump portions of the grate. This results in a rotation of the two diunp portions of the grate in opposite directions, an effect which is generally secured only by a pair of gear sectors.

The outer extremity of crank 44 is provided with an aperture 50 into which is inserted the bent end 5| of a rod 52. Said rod 52 likewise extends forward through the ash-pit to the front region of the furnace and terminates in a hook 53. Externally of furnace l is a vertical lever 54 which is pivoted in a support 55 by means of a pin 56 riding in a Vertical slot 5'| in said support 55. Lever 54 is provided with additional pins 58 and 59 which cooperate with hooks 53 and 42, respectively. It will beinoted that hook 53v is shorter than hook 42 and that it lacks a reverse bend such as is provided at 60 at the end of hook 42. Said hook 53 is shorter than slot T, so that by raising lever 54, pin 58 will clear the end of hook 53. Hook 42, however, will not be cleared when lever 54 is so raised. Thus, when lever 54 is lowered so that pin 56 is at the bottom of slot 51, pins 58 and 59 engage hooks 42 and 53, and when said lever 54 is raised so that pin 56 is at the upper end of slot 51, pin 58 clears hook 53, but pin 59 is still engaged. It is thus possible to pull rod 4l without pulling rod 52, and, alternatively, to pull both rods together. Inasmuch as rod 4| is connected to the shake mechanism and rod 52 is connected to the dump mechanism, the arrangement at lever 54 permits the operator selectively to shake, or shake and dump, the grate as he desires.

It will be noted that the axis of pin 56 about which lever 54 is pivoted is parallel with the axes of rotation of dump portions 28 and 29 of the grate, and that the action of lever 54 is therefore more direct.

In order to limit the amount of rotation of the dump portion of the grate, strap 34 is provided with a lug 6|, which extends outwardly into the sphere of action of cranks 43 and 44. Crank 43 is enlarged at its right-hand side as viewed in Fig. 4 to provide a sloping surface 62 having a particular relation to the center line of crank 43. Similarly, crank 44 is enlarged at its left-hand side as viewed in Fig. 4 to provide a sloping surface 63. Surface 62 contacts lug 6| when rod 52 is pulled to the right, and therefore, limits the rotation of the grate portions in that direction. The limit of rotation in the opposite direction is determined when surf-ace 63 contacts lug 6|. Dump portions 28 and 29 are weighted at their outer peripheries so that the grate portions normally tend to remain in a generally horizontal position.

It will be observed that the ashY-pit I3 is not encumbered with grate operating mechanism as is usually the case where gear sectors Iare used, and that therefore, the ash-pit may be kept clean more readily. The entire mechanism is very simple and direct acting with little or no chance that clinkers or other solid material will become wedged therein to prevent the operation thereof.

It is understood that the foregoing description is merely illustrative of la preferred embodiment of this invention, and that the scope of the invention, therefore, is not to be limited thereto, but is to be determined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dump for a grate comprising a plurality of grate portions oscillatable about parallel horizontal axes, cranks at one end of said portions, a link connecting said cranks for simultaneous oscillation, a lever oscillatable about an axis parallel to the axes of said portions, and means selectively connectable to said lever and non-releasably connected to one of said cranks whereby oscillation of said lever will effect an oscillation of said portions to dump the grate.

2. A grate comprising a frame member, spaced bearings in said member, a plurality of oscillat- Iable grate portions journalled in said bearings, other bearings in said frame member, wheels journalled in said other bearings, an annular grate portion supported on said wheels for oscillatory movement about a vertical axis, lever and link means connecting the first-mentioned portions for oscillating adjacent portions in opposite directions, a lever oscillatable selectively about a plurality of axes which are generally parallel to the axes of the first-mentioned portions, link means, one connected to the lever and link means and another connected to the annular grate portion, and all terminating in proximity to the lever oscillatable about a plurality of axes, and means for connecting said last-mentioned lever to the annular grate portion link or to both links whereby oscillation of said lever is effective to oscillate only the annular grate portion .or all of said portions together to shakev or dump said grate.

CLEO HARRIS.. 

